Collapse, but Stand users

Kira Yoshikage comforted Vervie and briefly described the whole story to her.

Wilvi isn't unreasonable; she's witnessed your abilities and believes you won't die easily.

But it's understandable that she loves you and worries about you.

Seeing that Yoshikage Kira was unharmed, Virvi let go of him after a brief embrace.

Then, he looked at Himiko, who was still unconscious on the experimental table.

"Is it alright to let her stay with you for now?" Kira Yoshikage said to Virvie.

“Of course.” Velvi nodded obediently.

Kira Yoshikage patted 'My True Self' Wilvie's head and said, "I'll explain to you when I have time, but not now."

After saying that, he walked out of the Spiral Workshop and was taken away by the interrogators.

......

"How did you survive facing the flames of the Herrscher of Flame?"

"I passed out right away and didn't know what happened. When I woke up, Kevin had already defeated the Herrscher."

To the series of questions posed by the Moth of Flame, Yoshikage Kira simply repeated, "I don't know."

After conducting a physical examination on Yoshikage Kira, no abnormalities were found, and Moth of Flame did not make things difficult for him and let him leave.

"Wow! Boss, I'm so glad you're alright!" Paddy exclaimed excitedly as she rushed into Yoshikage Kira's arms upon seeing him emerge from the interrogation room.

"Yes, I'm back." Kira Yoshikage greeted everyone with a smile as they looked at the people waiting for him outside the interrogation room.

......

The seventh Newcomers' Ball was held as scheduled, and the Fifth Squad was commended, solidifying Kevin's title as a hero.

But the members of the fifth squad weren't very happy, because the Herrscher they were tasked with defeating was their captain.

For various reasons, some members of the fifth squad chose to leave the team.

Looking at the group that left the team, no one blamed them. Facing the pressure of the Herrscher and the threat of death is not something everyone can do.

The banquet was in progress, but the atmosphere on Kira Yoshikage's side was somewhat oppressive.

"Are these the rest of the fifth squad?" Yoshikage Kira spoke first, breaking the silence.

“Ah, yes, they should all be here,” Alicia replied.

Yoshikage Kira, Padre, Airi, Kevin, Kosmo, Hua, Desdobia, Carol.

There were fewer than ten people, but Yoshikage Kira was quite satisfied with that.

"Now that we're all on the same side, I have something to say to everyone." After saying that, Yoshikage Kira fell silent.

Then, silence fell again, and even Alicia didn't know what to say.

"Assistant, I'm here."

Wilvi suddenly appeared, and Kira Yoshikage nodded to her.

"She's awake. And I've notified all the people you asked me to notify," Virvi reported to Yoshikage Kira.

"Well done." Kira Yoshikage patted Vervie's head, then said to everyone, "It's clear that no one is in the mood to enjoy the banquet. In that case, come with me."

Then, Yoshikage Kira got up and walked outside. The others looked at each other and followed him.

They walked all the way to the Spiral Workshop, went inside, and saw Mebius, Mei, and the captain who should have been dead—Himiko.

Yoshikage Kira walked to the front of the group and clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention.

"Then, let me explain the situation to everyone."

"First of all, Alicia is a Herrscher."

"Hey hey hey hey! Why do you always pick on me? Didn't we agree not to tell anyone else?"

"Secondly, those struck by this arrow have a chance to gain special abilities." Ignoring Alicia's wails, Kira Yoshikage took out the arrow and showed it to everyone.

"I call this special ability 'Stand'. The ability of a Stand varies from person to person, and a Stand can also absorb Honkai energy to strengthen itself."

"Just say what your questions are, and I'll answer them all now."

Himiko was the first to raise her hand.

"Uh, that's called a Stand, right? My Stand can set things on fire, but it seems unable to absorb Honkai energy. The Herrscher core within me seems to be rejecting the Stand's abilities."

Yoshikage Kira nodded thoughtfully, then shook his head and said, "Currently, there are only the two of us Stand users. It's possible that absorbing Honkai energy is my own ability."

“Now, it’s my turn to ask a question. What are the chances of becoming a Stand user, as you mentioned?” Mebius, standing to the side in a white lab coat, crossed his arms and asked Yoshikage Kira.

"It's not as good as a Fusion Warrior, and most Stands aren't as powerful as Fusion Warriors."

"Really? I'm fine now."

"What about the others?" Looking around at everyone, they were all digesting the information they had just received and the fact that Himiko had survived.

"Um... everyone, I think I'm a Herrscher?" Alicia raised her hand sheepishly.

"Everyone, go back now. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me privately later."

"Hey, I'm a Herrscher who can destroy the world, so pay attention to me!" Alicia raised her voice, emphasizing that she was a Herrscher.

"Heh, you think you can destroy the world? With your magical girl-like crystal arrow." Mebius looked at Alicia and mocked her.

“I am a Herrscher with humanity, you know. Aren’t you interested, Mebius?”

"Hmph, boring." Mebius turned to leave, but Alicia stopped her.

"My dear Möbius~ Don't rush off yet, let's throw a personal banquet for our Captain Himiko to celebrate... um, Himiko's resurrection?"

"Please, please, Mebius."

"Tsk, annoying." Anticipating that he might be pestered by Alicia for a long time if he didn't agree, Mebius stopped and returned to his original position.

“Then I’ll prepare the space; there’s still plenty of room below the Spiral Workshop,” Velvi suggested to the group.

Looking at the time, it was only 8 p.m., so there was still plenty of time. Yoshikage Kira agreed.

"Alright, let's have a banquet!" Alicia cheered. The girl was so happy at this moment, for Himiko's resurrection, and even more so for everyone's acceptance of her as the Herrscher.

......

......

......

After the revelry, everyone left one after another. Since everyone was smart, Yoshikage Kira didn't give them any reminders.

As she watched the others leave, Himiko's face showed a forlorn expression.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"Ah, it's Yoshikage Kira..." Himiko hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

“There’s no need for us to hide anything from each other, is there? You’ve even seen my body naked.”

"I was dizzy at the time and didn't see much!" Himiko raised her voice, explaining frantically to Yoshikage Kira.

Kira Yoshikage looked at Himiko with a light smile. Himiko combed her hair, took a deep breath, and spoke to Kira Yoshikage.

"Only when I'm joking around with everyone can I temporarily forget that I am the murderer who killed tens of millions of Australians."

"I almost killed my teammates, luckily you noticed my abnormality in time, otherwise..."

Himiko smiled bitterly, "Bearing the burden of tens of millions of lives, no one can understand such pressure."

"While I can't empathize with you, killing tens of millions of lives wasn't your intention, was it?"

"Kill one person and save one person; kill ten people and save ten people; kill millions and save millions of people."

"If you have the power of a Stand, then use it. You can do it."

"To remain stagnant here would be a disservice to the tens of millions of people."

"I will. I will use my power to save those who are still alive."

Seeing Himiko cheer up, Kira Yoshikage said no more.

"For now, stay with Velvi. Velvi will make you a set of equipment to conceal your identity. Once the equipment is ready, you can go into battle."

"Be prepared to operate in the shadows, Himiko."

"Well, I will."

The two fell silent and went to rest.